Chapter 11- Something Wicked This Way Comes

Urtear was NOT in a pleasant mood.

She stormed around her room in the tallest tower, fuming at the crystal ball in the center. The blonde was laughing with the blue Exceed again as they cleaned one of Urtear's torture rooms, the cat occupying her mind from the steel traps that littered around the room.

She banged a fist against the table, feeling the anger rage inside her. Thunder cracked outside, the thunderclouds rolling ominously. Urtear didn't spare them a glance- her magic had held up the rains so far, today would be no different. Her mind was focused on Lucy; that dratted Good Witch with her sister's shoes.

Those shoes. Urtear's gaze was fixed on the red, glittery shoes, and she frowned to herself. Her sister had been able to call up fire storms, tornadoes, and even hail the size of a carriage at the snap of her fingers because of those shoes. But on Lucy, they were just an accessory, absolutely useless.

With those shoes, she could destroy that blasted Wizard, and the rest of Oz with him. All she needed to do was find a way to convince Lucy to take off the ruby slippers. The Lion angle wasn't working, and she'd seen to the fact that the Scarecrow and Tin Man would never make it to the castle. She needed something, something new.

Something that would destroy her, break the blonde's spirit.

Urtear turned away from the crystal, knowing full well that her endless staring at Lucy was not helping her situation. A thought struck her, and she snapped her fingers. "Lily!"

A thunderbolt clapped, and the small cat shuddered, cowering slightly. "Y-yes?"

Urtear ignored his fearfulness. "When we brought the girl here, you took her basket, didn't you?"

Lily nodded, and Urtear made a small noise. "Bring it. I want it here yesterday."

Lily raised an eyebrow, and he flew across the room. "My Queen, it's been here since she arrived." He landed next to the basket on a high bookshelf. "What's even in this?"

Urtear frowned, and Lily flew to her shoulder, carrying the basket. "Leverage." She moved the cloth over the top of the contents, revealing the treasures beneath. "No one knows much about this Lucy, so how can I break a child I know nothing about?"

Lily fidgeted slightly on her shoulder. "Are you sure you have to break her? She's such a sweet girl, I'm sure she'll just-"

Urtear's hand snapped up, catching Lily by the scruff of his neck. "Silence!" She threw him easily across the room, and he barely caught himself with his wings before he hit the wall. "Leave me Lily- don't let me hear you talking about that bitch downstairs like that again." She paused as she picked a book up from Lucy's basket, frowning slightly. "Fairy… Tail… What an odd name."

Lily slunk out of the room, uneager to attract any more attention from the Witch, and he couldn't help but pity Lucy. She had no idea what storm was coming for her, but deep down he just hoped that Lucy would kill the Witch.

And as he heard the maniacal laughter of the Witch, Lily felt his stomach sink sadly. Lucy didn't stand a chance.

Lucy rubbed her shoulder, grumbling softly to herself as she walked up the stairs. Happy had gone to get her dinner from the Great Hall, but Lucy's mind wasn't focused on the fish that would be waiting for her in her cold little room.

She dreaded this part of the day most of all- her daily 'chat' with the Witch. The Witch had offered her everything Lucy could want- money, land, fame; but Lucy turned it all away. Nothing she could give was worth giving up the shoes, but still the Witch tried, growing more and more agitated as every day passed.

Lucy reached the top of the stairs and walked to the ornate door at the end of the narrow hallway, and she steeled herself as she knocked on the door. To her surprise, the door didn't fly open like normal, and the Witch's voice, typically harsh and angry, was almost in a welcoming tone. "Come in."

Carefully, Lucy opened the door, senses on high alert as she entered the room and shut the door. The Witch was planning something; she could feel it in her bones.

The room was just like Lucy remembered, a bed pushed up against the far wall, books covering the walls in their bookcases. There wasn't much in the room, other than an end table in the center of the room, where a crystal ball sat on a stand. The Witch was actually smiling warmly as she turned to face Lucy from her place beside it, and she beckoned her in. "Ah, Lucy. You've finished your chores for the day then?"

Lucy nodded, and the Witch snapped her fingers, causing a chair to appear from thin air and land with a soft thud next to the table. "Come, sit for a minute."

Lucy eyed the chair with suspicion. "Actually, I'd rather not."

The Witch chuckled. "Then stand and listen to what I have to say."

Lucy shook her head. "I won't. You're not getting the shoes today, nor any other day. So skip the pleasantries."

A flash of annoyance passed through the Witch's gaze, but she shrugged. "Then go back to your little prison."

Lucy turned to go, and she reached the door before the Witch spoke again. "I merely thought you'd like to see your beloved Fairy Tail."

Lucy froze, her hand on the doorknob. "How do you-"

The Witch chuckled. "I know many things Lucy. I can cast spells that could bind souls to inanimate objects, cause droughts and plagues to forsake a nation in mere hours. But you- you are the one thing in Oz that has always perplexed me. A witch who claims to be a wizard from a place that no one has ever heard of except in fairy tale books."

Lucy turned, and the Witch picked up a book from the end table, flipping it open. "A guild filled with wizards who can bring objects to life with a simple flick of a paintbrush, conjure fire and ice without incantations, summon beings from other dimensions to obey their whims. A fantastical place with fairies watching the entrance." She chuckled darkly as she set the book down. "A world teeming with magic like this would be at my mercy in a matter of moments."

Lucy felt sick to her stomach. "Please, don't-"

The Witch smirked. "Now, don't get ahead of me Lucy." She dragged her fingers across the crystal. "Come and look."

Lucy moved forward slowly as the ball began to glimmer, then the shine melted away, and her eyes widened as the mist cleared, revealing a large ornate gateway, with two large wooden fairies ushering people through the doors. She ran her hand across the surface of the ball, staring at the outside of her beloved guild. It was just as beautiful as she remembered.

The ball reacted to her touch, and Lucy jerked her hand away quickly, surprised as the scene changed again. This time it revealed the interior of the guild, happy faces roaring with laughter as people played, drank, and even fought, sending the guild into a confusing sort of chaos as pretty women served drinks. Lucy felt a mixture of guilt as she stared at each face- she recognized no one, but they all seemed vaguely familiar.

"How is this possible?"

Lucy didn't realize the words were out of her mouth until the Witch responded with a warm smile, brushing her long black hair from her face. "My eye sees all, Lucy of Fairy Tail. It peered through the dimensions and found your home, lost among the stars."

Lucy looked up, and she instantly fought back the urge to vomit. With the curtain of hair that covered the Witch's face out of the way, she could see the rotting hole where an eye used to be. She clapped a hand over her mouth and nose, sickened by the sudden smell of melting flesh that spread through the room.

The Witch chuckled as she let her hair drop back into place. "Pretty, isn't it? It was a present from Glinda in the War of the Witches, a curse to let the eye fester in its socket. My sister was kind enough to encase the magic it possessed and put it in this crystal ball so that even when I lost my eye, I could still retain my Sight."

Lucy took steady, even breaths, trying to fight off the nauseous feeling in her stomach. "Why are you showing me all of this?"

"To remind you of where you belong Lucy. Your place is there, at Fairy Tail. Not here in Oz." The Witch waved a hand, and the image in the ball faded. "And… to make you an offer."

"An offer?"

The Witch nodded. "You went to the Wizard to have him send you home, did you not? Instead of sending you home, he's sent you here, to me. Whether he believed you could defeat me or not, he sent you to a doomed life in my castle. In the end, it was a good for me and only me, as this now gives me the chance to offer you what he denied."

Lucy shook her head. "No, the Wizard said I just needed to bring your broomstick back to him, and he'd send me home. He won't deny me when I return with your broom."

The Witch's good eye twitched subtly. "Ignoring the fact you'll have to pry it from my cold, dead hands, did he really? Did he say he would?"

Lucy paused, thinking back to her brief meeting with the Wizard. "Not exactly, but-"

The Witch cut her off. "I offer you safe passage back to your beloved Fairy Tail. I have no reason to keep you from them, and if you accept, then no harm shall come to them from me. Even your precious companions will be allowed to leave my territory unharmed, and you'll be back at Fairy Tail before you know it."

Lucy looked long and hard at the Witch, expecting to catch some glimmer of malice in her eye. But there was none, and Lucy felt a glimmer of hope.

Her next thought crushed it. "What do you want from me?"

The Witch's eyebrow rose slightly. "What?"

"You've offered to send me home, but you haven't told me what I have to give you in return."

Urtear actually laughed. "What do you think Lucy? The shoes, of course." She gestured to the shoes on Lucy's feet. "The magic I speak of is… complex. Using my sister's shoes, I'll be able to open a one way door into your world, one I'll be unable to open without you here. Give me the shoes, and I'll send you home."

Lucy frowned, staring at the Witch. Part of her wanted to go home, back to Fairy Tail, back to the mysterious voice that whispered to her in the night, never making any sense. She was tired of not remembering the family she'd left behind, weary of the unanswered questions and this quest that never seemed to end. She was so tempted to accept.

But the larger, more noble part of her worried about Oz. Oz and all the wonderful people here who made her feel like she'd never left Fairy Tail at all. She couldn't just betray them all and leave them like this.

Lucy shook her head. "No Ultear, I won't do that to Oz. I'll find another way home, without your help."

Ultear's expression morphed into one of pure rage, and she balled her fist. "Then fine. Upon your own head then."

She snapped her fingers, and the furniture came to life around Lucy. She screamed as the arms of the chair behind her became fluid, wrapping around her own arms as they pulled her down. She strained against the chair as Ultear spun the crystal ball on its stand, frowning as she stared into its depths.

"Don't!" Lucy yelled, but Ultear merely smirked as she waved her hand over the globe, bring up the image of Fairy Tail again.

"I may not reach them myself, but my magic will take care of them for me." She waved a hand, and an hourglass flew over to her hand from the bookshelf as she began to speak to the crystal ball.

Gods of rest

Claim these pests

Let them sleep

And make it deep

Ultear muttered the words over the ball, and Lucy watched, horrorstruck as she watched a mist began to drift slowly up from the floor, and Ultear smirked as she patted Lucy's cheek. "Don't fret dear, they won't have any idea what's going to hit them until it's too late." She turned over the hourglass, setting it down on the edge of the table. "When the final grain of sand falls, the spell will outlast time iteself and will infect everyone with the mark of Fairy Tail. But don't fret too much- just know that this is your entire fault. If you'd just given me the shoes there would've been a Fairy Tail to return to."

She turned to go, and Lucy cried out in desperation. "Come back! I'll give you the shoes! Just don't do this!"

Ultear smirked as she opened the door. "I'm sorry, but you've made your choice Lucy. And now you'll live with the repercussions."

The door slammed, and Lucy felt tears of rage pour down her face as she tried to break free of the bonds. There had to be a way to stop the Witch's spell, and her eyes flashed to the hourglass on the end table. The Witch had said that when the last sand grain fell, her friends would fall into an irreversible sleep. If she could stop the sand from falling, maybe she could stop the spell.

She glanced at the crystal, feeling a wave of worry as she watched a small child suddenly drop to the ground, her hat rolling away as her mother picked her up, looking worried as she yawned. People were trying to move towards the doors, dragging friends who'd fallen to the effects of the gas, but the gas was claiming victims faster than they could escape.

Lucy tired to move the chair closer so she could reach the hourglass, but the chair held firm against the ground, defiantly defying her will. Slowly, she brought up a leg, trying to touch the hourglass. The toe of her red shoe barely brushed against the glass, and she leaned forwards, ignoring the pressure on her arms as she strained against the chair.

Her foot tapped against the glass, and she tried pushing it towards the edge. It spun slightly, inching closer to the edge, but it moved backwards with the pressure.

Lucy knew she had one last chance- one more push should send it over the edge, but if it didn't, it was going to be out of her range for good. Steeling herself, she kicked out at the hourglass, watching as the tip of her shoe barely caught the side of glass.

It spun towards the edge, just like she'd hoped, but it barely reached the edge. Tauntingly, it leaned slightly, as if debating on falling over before it righted itself. Lucy kicked at the table, wincing as her foot hit it hard, but the hourglass barely even moved.

Almost two-thirds of the sand was in the bottom now, and Lucy turned back to the crystal ball. Almost everyone was on the ground, fast asleep. Only two people stood tall, and as Lucy watched, the tall red-head fell to her knees, holding her head as she tried to drag a white-haired woman to the door. A pink-haired man was shaking as he tried to make his way towards the back of the guild, ignoring his own tiredness as he struggled towards the stairs.

Lucy's eyes widened as they fixed on the man. It was the dream-Natsu, the human version she'd seen in her dream in the field of poppies. But that couldn't be real, could it?

He was yelling something, coughing as he struggled towards a door, and Lucy felt a wave of anger flash through her.

"Get away! Don't go up there!" She yelled, fighting even harder against the chair. "Get out while you still can! Save yourself you idiot!"

But she knew he wouldn't. She didn't know how she knew, but she knew that Natsu would never forsake anyone to save himself.

He'd come save her, come save them all, even at the cost of his own life.

Lucy shut her eyes as the sand in the glass began to reach the bottom. "Natsu." She whispered, bidding him to come save them.

The door slammed open, and there was a relieved gasp as someone bolted in. "Luce!"

Lucy whipped her head around, cricking her neck, but her eyes fixed on a beaming pink-haired scarecrow as he rushed forwards like a white knight in a story book. Unlike fairy tales though, he tripped over his feet, and the axe he'd been carrying flew out of his hands. Lucy ducked as it soared overhead, slamming into the hourglass and the crystal ball.

The hourglass tipped over, shattering on the floor as the head of the axe embedded itself in the crystal ball. Lucy heard a far off scream as the crystal ball exploded in a spray of blood, leaving behind a lump of ash.

Natsu stood up, wincing as he grabbed the axe. "I hope that wasn't important."

Lucy stared at him, open-mouthed as he slammed the axe into the chair, which shrieked as it relinquished its hold on her. He looked so different from when she'd last seen him- most of him was scorched, the only part without any damage was his upper arm, where he'd tied a bright white ribbon. For a second, he looked a little lost, holding out his hand to her. "Sorry we made you wait so long for a rescue. Those flying cats kept trying to dump water on Gajeel, and he didn't want to risk rusting-"

She launched herself at him, hugging him tightly as she buried her head into his chest. "You came."

Natsu started, a little surprised, but he wrapped his arms around her. "Of course. I'd go to the ends of the world for you."

Lucy pulled away, ready to tell him what she'd just realized, but the words caught in her throat as she met his onyx eyes.

She couldn't say it. It felt wrong.

He didn't seem to notice as he pulled at her hand, grinning as he grabbed her basket from the bookshelf, handing it to her. "Come on, we have to go catch up with Gajeel. He went to go free Wendy and Plue downstairs. We're breaking out of here!"

Lucy pulled her hand free. "Wait! The Witch's broomstick!" She bolted for the cupboard, wrenching it open. "She only uses it when she's traveling, otherwise she keeps it-" She reached in, pulling it out with a flourish. "Here!"

Natsu's grin grew even wider. "Great! Now let's get out of here!"

They bolted out the door, rushing down the stairs, and Lucy glanced back at him as she lead the way. "How did you even get in here?"

Natsu puffed out his chest, looking proud. "I made a diversion over by the outside wall. We lit a couple of trees on fire and snuck in during the confusion. They should still be out there right now."

Lucy's eyes widened. "You did?"

Natsu nodded. "I had to get over my fear of fire at some point. I just have to be careful cuz I can still go up in smoke."

Lucy nodded as they reached the bottom floor. "I'll be sure to put you out if you do."

Natsu turned a little pink as he looked down at the ground. "Lucy, I'm sure this isn't the time, but I wanted to ask-"

"Oi! Let's go!"

They both looked up as Gajeel stomped out from the dungeons, Wendy and Plue in tow. Lucy raced over, hugging Plue and Wendy. She paused as she let Wendy go, beaming. "I told you they'd come for us!"

Wendy nodded, beaming, and Gajeel pushed them towards the main door. "Fire-dork, let's go! The Witch is going to notice their escape soon!"

Natsu huffed slightly as he glared at Gajeel as the iron man grabbed the door handle. "Just a little further Wendy, and then we'll be in the clear."

Wendy smiled at him as she hugged Plue tighter to her chest. "I wonder why the Witch hasn't noticed us yet."

Lucy frowned, glancing up towards the tower above their heads. "She probably didn't because she was focused on a spell. Couple that with Natsu's distraction, and her mind was focused on other things. But now that the spell has failed, she'll be aware that something's up."

Gajeel succeeded in opening he door, and a voice chortled, full of malice. "Too true, little Lucy of Fairy Tail."

The group all jumped backwards as the door revealed the Witch standing just beyond it, blood oozing down from her empty eye socket. Lucy turned, searching for another exit, but the Exceed were behind them, looking silent and grim as they watched the encounter. She gulped, knowing that they were trapped.

Instinctively, she reached out, grabbing Natsu's hand. Wendy gasped softly as she ducked behind Gajeel's back, who's hands tightened around a large sword. The woman smirked, snapping her fingers.

Come

The broom shot out of Lucy's hand, eager to return to its master. She twirled it slowly, staring at it as she spoke. "I was perplexed when I realized my spell had failed. I thought you may have finally used magic to cancel it out, but when my eye shattered… well…"

She glowered at Natsu and Gajeel. "Very crafty. I never expected the scarecrow to set fire to so many trees in my grove, but it was very clever of you both to slip in while my Exceed were busy finding water to stop the blaze. But I'm afraid that your adventure comes to an end here."

Her good eye fixed on Natsu and Lucy's hands clasped, and she made a small noise of disapproval as Lucy moved forward, shielding him with her body. "Ah, young love. I'm surprised a brainless oaf like yourself could even find someone." She snapped her fingers again.

Beasts and Dragons of the dark

Give me power of the spark

I wish to cast a blast of fire

That is what I desire

Fire burst forth into life in her hand, and she smirked evilly. "I should've never let you live all those years ago. With your death, maybe your little leader will finally give me the shoes."

Natsu was shaking, but from the expression on his face, Lucy knew it wasn't from fear. Instinctively, she tighten her grip on his hand as he spoke. "I'm not afraid to die for her. She'll never give you the shoes."

The Witch's smirked melted away, and she raised her hand. "So be it then."

Lucy's free hand moved to her basket, her eyes fixed on the ball of flame. Water- she needed water.

A glass appeared in her hand, and she threw it at the fire as Ultear threw the flame. What Lucy had not expected was Natsu.

He shoved her away from him in an attempt to protect her from the blast flying at them, but her tight grip on his hand pulled him with her as she threw the water, instantly knowing that she'd missed her original mark.

Thefireball soared past where Natsu's head had been, but the water kept it's path, hitting the Witch square in the face. For a second, silence reigned as the Witch stared, horrorstruck as a water droplet slowly dropped from her nose, hitting the ground with a soft splat.

Her eyes fixed onto Lucy, and she screamed, long and loud as her hands flew to her face. "You bitch!" She started clawing at her face as boils began to appear, and everyone stepped back as the Witch began to scream louder. Chunks of her skin were peeling away under the Witch's hands, and Lucy felt sick as the Witch howled, the wind picking up around her. "I'm melting!"

Skin and muscle were falling away, leaving nothing but a screaming skeleton dressed in ripped fabric , one eye rolling around frantically before it fell away and burst on the ground. "What a world! What a world!" The Witch's voice was nothing more than an evil hiss now, but her last words hung in the air as the skeleton fell to the ground, bursting into a cloud of dust.

The five companions and the Exceed looked on in shock as the whirlwind spun the dust into the air, swallowing up everything as it blew out the door, the broomstick landing with a clatter on the ground, that and the strangest smell of sulfur the last reminder of the Witch who'd once ruled over the Vinkus.

A full minute passed before someone spoke up. "She's dead." An Exceed said, and instantly Lucy turned to them, fearful of what they would do now that the Witch was dead.

But her fear was illogical as the Exceed roared, looking relieved as dozens began to take flight, flying happily around in the air. All around them statues Lucy had been diligently cleaning began to shake, transforming into the female Exceed. The cheering crescendo-ed as relatives began to be reunited, and Lucy had to clap her hands over her ears.

"ENOUGH!"

The merriment halted suddenly as Lily moved forward, eyeing Lucy. "You've killed the Wicked Witch, Lucy of Fairy Tail. And for that, the Exceed of the Vinkus are indebted to you." He knelt down, and the other Exceed mirrored his movements. "We will serve you till the ends of time."

Lucy shook her head. "No, I don't want that Lily. You and the Exceed are free to go and rebuild your homes."

The Exceed looked up, relief flooding their faces as they began to take off, flying away into the distance with cries of joy. Happy slammed into Lucy's chest, his fur streaked with tears. "Lucy! You killed her Lucy, you really did it!"

Lucy smiled at him, feeling a twinge of regret as she glanced at the spot the Witch had turned to dust on. Even after all she'd done, she'd never wanted to kill the Witch. "You're free now Happy- what are you going to do now?"

Happy wiped his eyes, looking pleased through his tears. "We'll do what you said, go rebuild our homes."

Lily nodded his agreement. "I'll lead them into a new era of peace and harmony here in the Vinkus." He bowed low to Lucy again, offering her the broom. "But we will still be forever in your debt, Lucy of Fairy Tail."

Lucy smiled at him as she took it. "Thank you Lily. We should be going though, we have a long way to go if we want to see the Wizard again."

Happy beamed as he flew up, extending a paw to her. Her eyes fixed on the white ribbon tied around his arm as he spoke. "Then let us fly you there! For us, it's not that far."

Lucy took his paw, shaking it. "Of course Happy!"

Happy moved to pick her up, but Lily shook his head. "No Happy, take the scarecrow. Lucy should use the broomstick."

Lucy looked down at the broomstick, and she frowned. "What?"

Lily gestured to it. "It will obey your will since you killed its last owner. Command it, and it will take you where you wish to go. We will carry your friends for you."

The few Exceed that remained nodded, and Lucy let out a small disapproving noise as she stared at it. It was vibrating softly in her hand, waiting for her command, and finally she nodded. "Alright then." She cleared her throat, holding it out. "To the Emerald City then!"

For a second, nothing happened, but as Lucy dropped her hand to her side, the broomstick shot from her hand, circling around her once before it stopped, hovering at waist height as it waited.

She sat down on it, just like she'd seen the Witch do hundreds of times, and the broomstick took off towards the Emerald City. The Exceed took off with her, Lily grabbing Gajeel and pulling him into the air. Happy grabbed onto Natsu, and a small green cat picked up Wendy and Plue, all three following behind Lucy as she soared above the tree tops.

Overhead, the sky was darkening, and Lucy couldn't help but laugh as she glanced back at the rapidly shrinking castle.

She was finally free, and she was heading back. Back to Fairy Tail.

So why did her heart feel like it was breaking?

Hey guys!

Sorry for seemingly dying and for a while there. Had to get some shit together, and I put writing off on the backburner for a bit. But I'm going to finish this story, no matter what.

Cheerio!